The Little Purple Notebook On How To Escape From This Universe
Copyleft � 1998 by Maximilian J. Sandor, Ph.D.
Subscription Information: Maria Loren
[email protected]
Website:
http://transmillennium.net/pnohteftu/
A Summary of Gotamo's Principle in Today's Language
The Person and his Path
Gotamo Siddharto, a local Prince in India 2,500 years ago, after going
through most of the many spiritual and physical exercises that were taught
at his time, decided to try a radically different approach and eventually
succeeded in waking up from the dream of life to a state beyond this
Universe.
At first, he did not want to share his insights because the truth he
perceived was, even though very basic and simple, extremely subtle as well
and therefore very difficult to teach to others.
However, someone convinced him ultimately that there would be indeed a few
human beings around who would be ready and able to understand what we would
have to say. For the sake of those few, he proceeded to teach the next
forty to fifty years before his physical body expired.
The Special Approach of Gotamo
Gotamo asserted a 'state' that is fundamentally independent of the system
of this Universe. Since labels can only be attached to phenomena that are
within a system, there cannot possibly be a name for this state and even
classifying it as a 'state' is therefore, strictly seen, incorrect.
Likewise, whoever is able to reach this 'state', cannot be labelled either.
The only possible approach to this 'state' is an _indirect way_.
Therefore, Gotamo taught a way of
thinking in exclusive terms rather than the common way of thinking in
identities.
For example, contemplating 'self' is necessarily an identifying and
self-reflexive way of thinking and it
cannot possibly lead to the 'way out'. In the contrary, since thinking in
identities is the very condition that is holding Beings in this Universe in
the first place, self-reflexive thinking will INCREASE the bonds that
prevent a person from being able to have the choice of withdrawing from
this world.
The Four Special Truths
Everything Gotamo said must be seen in the context of this very special
approach which was (and still is) radically different from other
philosphical or religious approaches.
He summarized his message in 'Four Special Truths':
1. The truth that there is a 'state' _beyond_ this Universe
and that everything that can be perceived is 'not-this-state':
"the truth of dukkha".
2. The truth about how a Being alienates itself and becomes
trapped in a Universe. Or, in a non-identifying description:
the truth about how the condition of 'dukkha' comes about.
3. The truth of the possibility of a 'Way Out', or again, in
non-identifying words, 'the truth of resolving 'dukkha'
4. The truth that there is a way to the 'way out', or,
how to go about it in resolving 'dukkha'.
While Gotamo recognized that there are more ways to reach the 'state
beyond' other than the one he taught, he postulated that the 'Four Special
Truths' are so basic that they must be part of any other approach as well.
In this light, the 'Four Special Truths' are of paramount importance and
could therefore be seen as the hallmark of the validity of any system that
is pursuing the goal of liberation.
The Immediate Goal
One feature of Gotamo's teaching that is makes if significantly different
from most other applied philosophies or religions is that it is expected to
yield concrete and conclusive results during _this_ lifetime. His message
was 'Come and see for yourself! Become free HERE AND NOW!"
Accordingly, a clearly recognizable landmark is required to determine if
success occurred or not.
This landmark was described by Gotamo as 'entering the stream that leads to
the state beyond' (Sotapanno).
Reaching this level was the goal he set for his audience. It is the on-ramp
for the 'Liberation Superhighway'.
He outlined three levels after this, depending on the speed at which the
final goal, complete liberation, can be expected to be obtained. But since
reaching the level of a 'Sotapanno' is a definite point from which a person
cannot sink into a lasting delusion anymore, the upper three levels are
more for the record than goals in their own sake.
The reason why a 'Sotapanno' cannot sink back into delusion is that
reaching this level is based on surpassing a threshold of understanding of
the non-self character of the world that makes it practically impossible
that the 'Sotapanno' could ever fall back into thinking in identities.
This and the other levels may be reached without the person being yet aware
of it. Gotamo therefore added an entry level to each of the four levels. In
this classification of eight levels, the second level obviously is the one
that should be achieved because it includes the full awareness and
certainty of the achievement of the first level.
Again, recognizing that the world is non-self, in other words, resolving
conscious, unconscious and superconscious identities is the threshold
process that will yield the 'entering of the stream'.
There are two basic routes to this: the intellectual and the intuitive
route. Only the first is 'guaranteed to work for everybody', according to
Gotamo. The latter, the path of meditation, is depending on the talents of
the individual and furthermore carries a considerable danger of being
misleading because of the multitude and strangeness of perceptions one can
be exposed to in its pursuit.
In praxis, the route of an individual will be a combination of both
immediate insight and abstract reasoning. This is illustrated by Gotamo's
observation that both abilities of a person are culminating at the fourth,
top level, of the path.
Since each individual is different from every other individual, every route
will necessarily be unique.
The goal of 'entering the stream' can be reached by anybody and it can be
reached here and now, whatever the circumstances of life may be in the
moment.
There is one, and only one, condition that can prevent a human being from
'entering the stream':
believing than an outside condition or someone other
than oneself could bring about liberation for oneself
It should be noted that 'entering the stream' is about gaining the ability
to make free choices. It is most certainly not about rejecting life itself
or conditions of life. Rejection or suppression is adding a new layer to
the original attachment without resolving the underlying issue.
The freedom of choice is the most valuable ability a human being has.
Animals as well as beings without a body cannot develop this ability during
their respective lifetimes. Within the sphere of human life, however,
everybody can increase the ability to make choices. 'Entering the stream'
is open to every human being, regardless of gender, race, age, wealth,
health, and even education.
What has happened to Gotamo's teachings?
At the core of Gotamo's 'very special, subtle' teachings is the strict
avoidance of 'thinking in identities'.
Thinking in identities, the root of delusion in the first place, is so
deeply engraved in human thinking that Gotamo's own prediction was that the
special characteristics of his teachings would last "...not more than 500
years, if at all that long..." before being lost.
Indeed, not long after his physical body quit its functions, his followers
started to think in identities again. Instead of respecting his expressive
request to not to think of him in any identifying terms, he was soon
labelled 'Suddho' ('Someone who is safe') and, later on, 'Buddho' ('One who
woke up').
A couple of centuries later the first 'Buddha' sculptures were set up,
marking the final dissolution of the original and special features of his
teachings in a way that could not be more dramatic and revealing.
Where to go from here...
Gotamo restricted himself to teaching only the most basic principles. He
rejected the use of the scholarly Sanskrit language and spoke in a local
dialect that could be understood by common people. As a direct result of
his basic approach of avoiding to think in identities, he used daily life
examples rather than creating codified assertions.
The original reports of his dialogues, compiled against his will some years
after his departure, are preserved in the books of the so-called 'Pali
Canon' which is available on the Internet and on CD-ROM. They contain a
wealth of examples and practical applications but there are only
a few translations widely available, all of which suffer from the problems
in translating unique philosophical concepts, and especially the very
specific approach of Gotamo.
But there are now also many publications about modern philosophies and
technologies dealing with the mind. Many of them are copies or variations
of ancient techniques but some appear to be rather unique and new. There is
no reason why they could not be employed for the purpose at hand.
Whether practical applications and techniques are being extracted from Pali
sources or retrieved from modern approaches, they can be examined for
compliance with the basic principles of Gotamo.
The question "Is non-identical thinking involved?" is sometimes difficult
to answer. But from the central
principles, tests can be developped which may be easier to apply.
To name a view:
* are identities being created/affirmed or are they being resolved?
* does the scope of perception become increasingly broad or more
limited?
* does functional understanding grow or are dogmatic assertions
established?
* are rituals involved in the process?
* is the independency of the truth seeker being emphazised or is there a
dependence on persons or objects?
* are there any belief systems attached?
* are there distinct levels of achievement or are the goals left
unspecified?
* are their any traces of bi-valued (black-and-white) thinking?
* are the results expected to be immediate or are they claimed to occur
in a future life?
etc. (a more detailed checklist will be part of the book)
A technique or a system of techniques that passes tests like the ones above
can be expected to lead towards the goal of complete liberation.
Any such procedure or insight can also be expected to be highly beneficial
for the well-being of the person doing it - no matter if the person shares
the ultimate goal of Gotamo or not.
This makes Gotamo's principles an invaluable tool for everybody and at any
stage of spiritual growth.
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Copyright � 1998 by Maximilian J. Sandor, Ph.D.
